Yes we Can(ton)

Canton is a mill town — and that’s just fine with residents, who embrace its industrial smells and sights as part of the town’s heritage and identity. As new transplants move in, drawn by Canton’s lower housing prices and ample vacant downtown commercial space, longtime residents seem optimistic the town can both welcome growth and maintain its authentic appeal.

Small-scale democracy: Small town elections offer intriguing possibilit­ies, but few options

“The best cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.” — Edward Abbey, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness The affluent little town of Chevy Chase, Maryland, population 2,918, was rocked earlier this year when a surprise write-in candidate garnered 168 votes to displace an unopposed incumbent. The town attorney and Ethics Commission were […]

All aboard, Asheville!

Let us not hesitate to build a new transportation system that implements light rail, bus and bike lanes as an addition to Asheville’s current transportation system. The long-term effects of implementing this infrastructure now far outweigh any doubt, hesitation or fear of cost. Long term, a light rail could bring residents from Marshall or Canton […]